Loose leaf binder



Aug. 23, 1938. P o. UNGER oosn LEAF BINDER Filed Feb. 12, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet l P" O. UNGER LOOSE LEAF BINDER Aug. 23, 1938.

Filed Feb. 12, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 23, 1938. P '0. UNGER LOOSE LEAF'BINDER Filed Feb. 12, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Patented Aug. 23, 1938 LOOSE LEAF BINDER Paul 0. Unger, Elmhurst, Ill., assignor to Wilson- Jones Company, Chicago, III., a corporation of Massachusetts ApplicationFebruary 12, 1936, Serial No. 63,481

13 Claims.

This invention relates to a loose leaf binder of the record book type, and more particularly to means for controlling the movement of the pintle slides.

It is an object of this invention to provide simple and eflicient means that move automatically, when the pintle slides have been manually moved into open position, into the path of travel of the pintle slides to retain them in open position. It is a further object of this invention to provide a trigger with means engaged by the cover, when the cover is moved to closed position, to move the trigger out of pintle engaging position. Other objects of this invention will become apparent upon reading the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a loose leaf binder embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view through the binder, showing thecover about to trip the pintle locking mechanism; 7

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view through the binder showing one sheet retaining post engaging the pintle slides;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the back of the binder with parts broken away to facilitate the illustration; v

Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view through the back of the binder taken along the line V-V o igure 4;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the pintle slide in open position;

Figure '7 is a view similar to Figure, 6 showing the pintle slide in closed position; v

Figure 8 is a fragmentary, detail of the post aligning strip;

Figure 9 is a. detail view of the trigger; and

Figure 10 is av fragmentary detail of the pintle slide.

In the drawings, the reference numeral 2 indicates a back member to opposite. sides of which cover members 3 are hinged, as indicated at 4. The cover members 3 are preferably formed of light wood, such as basewood, but may be formed of binders. board or any similar material. The cover members 3 are provided with a covering 5 of leather or similar material to enhance the appearance of the finished book. The cover members 3 are secured to the hinges 4 by means of hinge plates 6 which are provided with a plurality of prong members 1 adapted toproject into the cover members 3. The covermembers 3 are recessed, as indicated at 8, to allow clearance space for the sheet retaining structure so the covers may lie flat against the sheets 9 without leav ing any gap. The inner surface of each cover member 3 is provided with a lining ll] of paper, fabric or any other suitable material.

The back member 2 includes a rounded back section II and a substantially flat'plate member I2 having its opposite longitudinal edges secured to the hinges 4. The plate member l2 adds rigidity to the back member 2, and serves as a support for the sheets 9. The rounded back section H is provided with a covering of leather or other suitable material, as indicated at l3, to harmonize with the covering material 5. a A tubular sheath I4 is secured'to'the flat back plate 12 adjacent each hinge by means of a flange Ill. The back plate I2 is depressed along its longitudinal edges, as indicated at I6, so that the exposed surface of the flange l5'is flush with the corresponding surface of the back plate l2. Each tubular sheath I4 is notched, as indicated at I1, in a plurality of predetermined positions. The notches I! are each adapted to receive one end of any sheet retaining post I 8 upon which thesheets 9 may be impaled. A pintle slide" I9 is slidably mounted in each tubular's'heath. "One end of the sheath is closed, as indicated at 20, to prevent access to the pintle slide from that end. Y

A tension spring 2i having'one'end secured to a pin 22 fixed adjacent the closed end 20 of the tubular sheath l4 and'its other end secured to the inner end 23 of the pintle slide, e'xerts a'const'ant force urging the pintle'slide' inwardlytowards closed position. Each pintle slide I9: is provided with a plurality of pintles 24 adapted to bridge the notches [T when the pintle slide" I9 is in its in-'-' nermost or closed position. The inward movement of the pintle slide l 9 is limited" by meansof the handle 25 which facilitates opening or outward movement of the pintle slide against "the action of the spring 2 l. The handle 25 is provided with a fiat surface 26 which projects over the top surface of the sheets 9', as shown most clearly in Figure 1, so that the handle 251m'ay be'readily engaged by the operators finger when it is desired to move either pintle slide to open position. The flat surface also prevents the handle 25 from digging into the flesh of an operator's finger. Each handle 25 is removably secured to-it's pi'ntle slide by means of a screw 21.

Each sheet retaining Dost l8"is apertured at both ends, as indicated at 28, so that when either end of any post I8 is properly positioned." in'any' notch I 1, one pintle 24 will" pass th-rough'itsap'erture 28 to secure the post to the binder when the proper pintle slide is moved inwardly. When the the projection 38 extends.

pintle slide I9 is pulled outwardly against the action of the spring 2| a distance sufiicient to disengage the pintles 24 from the apertures 28, the pintle slide is automatically held against accidental return to closed position upon release of the handle 25.

The mechanism for holding the pintle slide 19 in open position includes a trigger 29 pivoted to the back plate l2, by means of a rivet 33, to move substantially transversely of the binder into and out of the plane of the pintle slide. The trigger 29 is provided at its free end with a flange 3| which is bent at right angles to the body portion of the trigger and extends substantially parallel to the pintle slide. The flange 3| has a locking tooth 32 extending therefrom. The tubular sheath I4 is cut away, as indicated at 33 (Figure to enable the locking tooth 32 to lie against the pintle slide I9. The pintle slide i9 is provided with a recess or notch 34 in its lower edge. The recess 34 is dimensioned .tosnugly receive the locking tooth 32 and is positioned so that the pintle slide is in its open position, indicated in Figure 6, when the locking tooth is positioned in the recess.-

A spring 35, secured to the back plate I2 by means of a bracket 36, exerts a constant force against the flange 3! to urge the locking tooth 32 into the path of travel of the pintle slide. The bracket 36 is secured to the back plate l2 by means of rivets 30 and 31. The flange 3! is provided with a projection 38 bent at right angles thereto. The wall l4 of the tubular sheath i4 is provided with an aperture 38' through which The projection 38 extends'beyond the sheet retaining mechanism far enough to be engaged by the hinge plate 6 during movement of the cover to closed position when the cover is about fifteen degrees removed from its closed position. The cover moves the projection-38 inwardly and the locking tooth 32 moves out of the path of travel of the pintle slide I9. As soon as the tooth 32 is disengaged from the notch 34 the tension spring 2! automatically propels the pintle slide to closed position.

The projection 38 is made long enough to strike the hinge plate 6 before the cover is completely closed as indicated in Figure 2, because sometimes a canvas jacket is placed on the covers and if the projection were designed to engage the hingeplate later in the closing movement of the cover the jacket might interfere with the tripping action. As the binder is designed, even a pencil or a small-stack of papers resting on the top surface of the sheets will not interfere with the pintle locking mechanism.

The spring 35 is preferably formed from a single piece of spring wire 39 which is twisted so that its other end 43 exerts force against the lower edge of the pintle slide H? in a plane extending at right angles to the plane in which the force of the spring 35 is exerted. The pintle slide i9 is provided with a notch 4! in its lower edge. As shown in Figure '7,the notch 4! is positioned near the bent end 42 of the spring 43 when the pintle slide [9 is in its normal closed position. In this position the handle 25 abuts the end of the sheath M to prevent further inward movement of the pintle slide. When the binder is completely filled, the handle 25 is removed, and the spring 2| propels the slide inwardly beyond its normal closed position. The end 42 snaps into engagement with the notch 4i and permanently locks the pintle slide in closed position.

Although it is not essential, the binder is preferably provided with post aligning means to insure registration of the apertures 28 with the pintles 24 before the covers are closed. The preferred form of post aligning means is fully disclosed inmy prior application Serial No. 37,852, filed August 26, 1935, which issued as Patent No. 2,092,194, on September '7, 1937, and will not be described in detail. The post aligning means includes a resilient strip 43 having a longitudinal groove 44 adapted to engage the ends of the sheet retaining posts IS. A plurality of flat springs 45 cooperate with the strip 43 to impart a relatively stifi spring action to the strip to hold it in contact with the ends of the sheet retaining posts. The resilient strip 43 is secured to the binder by means of a plurality of hinge sleeves 46 which fit in and form part of the hinge 4. The strip 43 is provided with a notch 38 through which the projection 38 extends.

Although I have described the preferred embodiment of my invention in considerable detail, it will be understood that the description thereof is intended to be illustrative, rather than restrictive, inasmuch as many structural details may be modified or changed without departing from the spirit or scope of my invention. Accordingly, I do not desire to be restricted to the exact structure described, except as limited by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a loose leaf binder, a back member, a cover hinged to said back member, a tubular sheath secured along one edge of said member, a pintle slide in said sheath, said pintle slide being provided with a recess, a trigger movable substantially transversely of said back member in a plane parallel to the plane of said back member, means to move said trigger into said recess automatically when said recess is in regis'tration with said trigger, and means for automatically moving said trigger out of said recess when said cover is closed.

2. In a loose leaf binder, a back plate, a tubular sheath secured along one edge of said back plate, a pintle slide in said sheath, said pintle slide being provided with a recess, a trigger pivoted to said back plate and movable in a plane parallel to the plane of said back plate, and a spring urging said trigger towards said pintle slide to cause said trigger to engage said pintle slide when said pintle slide is moved to bring said recess into registration with said trigger.

3. In a loose leaf binder, a back member, a tubular sheath secured along one edge of said back member, a pintle slide in said sheath, the plane of said pintle slide being substantially perpendicular to' the plane of said back member, said pintle slide being provided with a recess, a spring urging said pintle slide inwardly, means for manually pulling said pintle slide outwardly against theaction of said spring, a trigger positioned out of the plane of said pintle. slide, and means automatically moving said trigger into the plane of said pintle slide and into said recess when said pintle slide has been moved outwardly a distance sufiicient to bring said recess into registration with said trigger.

4. In a loose leaf binder, a back plate, a tubular sheath secured along one edge of said back plate, a pintle slide in said sheath, said pintle slide being provided with a recess, a spring urging said pintle slide inwardly, means for manually pulling said pintle slide outwardly against the action of said spring, a trigger positioned out of the plane of said pintle slide, and means to move said trigger substantially transversely in a plane parallel tosaid back plate into the plane of said pintle slide and into said recess to hold said pintle slide in predetermined position when said pintle slide is pulled outwardly against the action of said spring.

5. In a loose leaf binder, a cover, a pintle slide movable longitudinally of said binder, a trigger positioned adjacent one side of said pintle slide, said trigger being movable into engagement with said pintle slide to prevent longitudinal movement of said slide, and a projection extending from said trigger to the opposite side of said pintle slide, said cover when moved to closed position being adapted to engage said projection to move said trigger out of the plane of said pintle slide.

6. In a loose leaf binder, a back member, a cover hinged along one edge of said back member, a tubular sheath secured adjacent said back member, a pintle slide in said sheath, the plane of said pintle slide being substantially perpendicular to the plane of said back member, a trigger pivoted to swing into the path of travel of said pintle slide, and a projection on said trigger adapted to project beyond the outer edge of said sheath when said trigger lies in the path of travel of said pintle slide, said cover engaging said projection, during movement to closed position, to move said trigger out of the path of travel of said pintle slide.

7. In a loose leaf binder, a cover, a back memher, a pintle slide movable longitudinally along one edge of said back member, a notch in said pintle slide, means pivoted to said back member, means automatically moving said first mentioned means into engagement with said notch when said slide is moved to bring said notch into registration with said first mentioned means, means projecting from said first mentioned means beyond said pintle slide when said first mentioned means is engaged with said notch, said cover engaging said last mentioned means to automatically move said first mentioned means out of engagement with said notch when said cover is moved to closed position.

8. In a loose leaf binder, a back member, a cover hinged along one longitudinal edge of said back member, a pintle slide adjacent said longitudinal edge of said back member, the plane of said pintle slide being substantially perpendicular to the plane of said back member, said pintle slide being provided with a recess, a spring urging said pintle slide inwardly, means for manually pulling said pintle slide outwardly against the action of said spring, a trigger positioned out of the plane of said pintle slide, means automatically moving said trigger into the plane of said pintle slide and into said recess when said pintle slide has been moved outwardly a distance sufiicient to bring said recess into registration with said trigger, and means on said trig-ger projecting toward said cover, said cover engaging said last mentioned means, during movement to closed position, to move said trigger out of said recess and out of the plane of said pintle slide.

9. In a loose leaf binder, a back plate, a pintle slide movable longitudinally of said back plate, a trigger comprising a flat bar pivoted to said back plate, a flange at the free end of said bar bent at right angles thereto, and a pair of projections on said flange, one of said projections being adapted to engage said pintle slide to prevent longitudinal movement of said pintle slide, the other of said pro-jections being engageable by said cover when said cover is moved to closed position to move said first mentioned projection out of engagement with said pintle slide.

10. In a loose leaf binder, a back plate, a tubular sheath secured along one edge of said back plate, a pintle slide in said sheath, said pintle slide being provided with a recess, and a trigger pivoted to said back plate, said trigger being movable substantially transversely in a plane parallel to said back plate into and out of said recess.

11. In a loose leaf binder, a back plate, a pintle slide movable longitudinally along one edge of said back plate, and a trigger pivoted to swing substantially transversely in a plane parallel to said back plate into and out of the path of travel of said pintle slide, said trigger engaging said pintle slide to prevent movement of said pintle slide when said trigger is in the path of travel of said pintle slide.

12. In a loose leaf binder, a back plate, a tubular sheath secured along one edge of said back plate, a pintle slide in said sheath, a trigger pivoted to swing substantially transversely in a plane parallel to said back plate into the path of travel of said pintle slide, said trigger engaging said pintle slide to prevent movement of said pintle slide, and spring means urging said trigger into the path of travel of said pintle slide.

13. In a loose leaf binder, a back plate, a pintle slide slidably secured along one edge of said back plate, means tending to move said pintle slide to closed position, and a trigger movable substantially transversely in a plane parallel to said back plate, said trigger being adapted to engage said pintle slide to hold said slide in open position against the action of said first mentioned means.

PAUL O. UNGER. 

